Amanda’s recognition internationally as a talented swimmer receives broad appreciation with her having Olympic medals attached to her name not to mention the identification as an exceptional swimmer. Consistent with the dynamics of fame and status, Amanda struggled with inner conflicts that would later resurface in her memoir, ‘In the Water They Can’t see You Cry’ . The memoir begins by giving an elaborate description of her self-mutilating behavior. She describes herself as a successful Olympic swimmer and world record holder gracing the cover of national magazines yet, deep down she struggled with her sense of identity. In analyzing her memoir, various questions arise on what could be done to improve her mental health went about and what it is we can learn about mental illness from her life. This paper aims to explore and delve into answering those questions.
Amanda’s struggle with bulimia is traceable to her getting into the spotlight, which brought to light issues regarding her perceived negative body image. In the memoir, she mentions feeling the need to have an acceptable body in her swimsuit. The unfortunate twist to this is that she did not handle experiencing a growth spurt very well and further explains how her body issues contributed to her abusing alcohol, struggling with bulimia, depression and being involved in self-mutilation,(Beard & Paley, 2008)
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Bulimia nervosa according to the APA (2013) is an eating disorder characterized by binging and purging behavior. With binging, there is uncontrolled consumption of food, subsequently followed by a process of getting rid of the food to influence weight so that an individual feels as though they will not gain weight. In this regard, Amanda was involved in purging to maintain her weight.
Various treatments are in consideration for an individual struggling with an eating disorder. For instance, psychological treatment, which is the primary form of therapy employed, encompasses the use of various psychological treatments. One type of therapy commonly applied is the cognitive behavioral therapy that revolves around changing thought processes regarding self-worth, ideal body image, and behavior attached to the thought processes as explained by (Moore, Ciampa, Wilsnack & Wright, 2007). The behavioral component of cognitive behavioral therapy encompasses employment of behavior modification techniques to alter behavior around binge eating and reducing purging behaviors.
Interpersonal psychotherapy is also identifiable as an intervention that facilitates treatment for bulimia. It takes a longer time but helps the patient identify deeper issues that promote bulimia for example maybe early childhood trauma, (Moore, Ciampa, Wilsnack & Wright, 2007).
Alternative forms of treatment used in conjunction with the psychological treatments include pharmacological intervention. For example, antidepressant medication to reduce adverse effects responsible for causing overeating. For example in Amanda’s, case the bulimia has its origins by having negative ideas about her body image.
Self-mutilation is another aspect of the struggle to Amanda aimed at helping her deal with her negative feelings, (Beard & Paley, 2003) particularly in her relationships. In most instances, the myth associated with self-mutilation is that it is suicidal yet this is not case as explained by Slee, Arensman, Garnefski & Spihoven, (2007). The mode of treatment applicable in such instances is a dialectical behavioral therapy that combines general cognitive-behavioral techniques with elements borrowed from Zen philosophy. In the approach, treatment aims at developing an alert, unbiased understanding of circumstances as well as to their emotions and thought processes. The focus is on mindfulness, which plays a role in facilitating treatment as patients receive training to concentrate on the here and now. For Amanda, an analysis of the cutting behavior is an underlying issue with depression. In her memoir, she admits to struggling with depression, characterized by feeling a sense of hopelessness and low morale for her daily activities, (Beard & Paley, 2003).
A misleading assumption often propagated is the idea that celebrities and public figures are unaffected by mental illness yet, the truth is mental illness can affect just about anyone. In particular to the issues, Amanda struggles with, many adolescents struggle with body image issues, depression and turn to self-mutilation or bulimia as a way of dealing with the underlying problems. There is much to learn from Amanda’s story including having the ability to accept that you have a problem and seeking treatment.
With mental illness, there is a lot of Stigma as explained by Hurley, (2014) which turns to cripple treatment efforts and the self-efficacy of the individual in overcoming the illness. For instance, Amanda reveals the growth spurt she experienced and negative comments attached to it painting a picture of how it contributed to her perceived negative body image. The negative thoughts fuelled by the intense criticism she received from the public on gaining weight.
Encouraging and building social support is a way that helps individuals suffering from mental illness better able to cope. For example in Amanda’s case, support from her boyfriend Socha who is now her husband encouraged her to seek out help through therapy. By relying on a support system and at the same time, having a system that is active and encouraging, patients can adhere to their treatment plans.
More discussions need to be available about mental illness particularly among adolescents so that it is not too late to implement interventions that help an adolescent avoid psychological distress. Measures should be in place to ensure that society has an adequate understanding of mental illness. Amanda’s case is one that is particularly inspiring to adolescents with its onset being at adolescents and by overcoming she was able to inspire many others struggling with depression, bulimia, come out and get treatment.
References
American Psychiatric Association,. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: (5th Ed.) Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Beard & Paley.. (2003). In the Water, They Can’t See You Cry: A Memoir. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Moore, Ciampa, Wilsnack & Wright,. (2007 ). Evidence-Based Interventions for Treatment of Eating Disorders : Journal of Clinical Sports Psychology. Human Kinetics, Inc.
Slee, Arensman, Garnefski, Spihoven. (2007). Research Trends: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Deliberate Self Harm . Hogrefe & Huber Publishers
